A weekly roundup of good deeds, missteps, heroic feats and epic failures in the tri-state region and beyond.
WINNERS
New York City Public Advocate Tish James and Councilmembers Donovan Richards and Jimmy Van Bramer — James, Richards and Van Bramer urged NYC DOT to follow through on plans to bring BRT to Woodhaven Boulevard.
Connecticut State Senate — The State Senate voted unanimously in favor of a resolution to protect transportation funding.
New Jersey Transit riders — U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (NY) and Cory Booker (NJ) announced Monday that the FAST Act will provide the means to fund the Gateway rail tunnel.
Florida Department of Transportation — The agency released a complete streets implementation plan to address deadly roads. In Florida, home to the nation’s four most dangerous cities for walking, 63 percent of pedestrian deaths occurred on arterial roadways lacking adequate bicycle and pedestrian amenities.
The planet — A recent study projected that global CO2 emissions will drop by a modest 0.6 percent in 2015–during which the global economy also grew by 3.1 percent.
LOSERS
Connecticut State Representative Bob Godfrey — Representative Godfrey opposed a bill to protect transportation funding on the grounds that it was “a set-up for putting up tolls in the state of Connecticut.”
New York State Senator Tony Avella and Assemblymember David Weprin — Senator Avella and Assemblymember Weprin had some interesting (and questionable) things to say about toll reform for the East River bridges.
Staten Island and the Bronx District Attorney’s Offices — According to a recent Transportation Alternatives report, District Attorney’s Offices in Staten Island and the Bronx are failing to demonstrate commitment to traffic safety and leadership on Vision Zero.
New York State Department of Transportation — The agency failed to even show up to a State Assembly hearing on their own two-year capital plan.
Rep. Bob Godfrey who is a long-term, bi-partisanly-respected, pro-rail legislator also opposed the Transportation Lock Box because it was more symbolic than real – numerous ways to get around.
While the FAST Act will help get the Gateway tunnel project going, I don’t really see that it funds it. Lets say Senatorial hyperbole. And we still need to hear from NJ and NY and how they will pay for their half.